Pneumatic action.



A. A. STEINHILBER.

PNEUMATXG AGTIGN, APrLIoATIoN FILED Mmm, 1911,

1,1 07,554. Patented Aug.18, 1914.

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THF mams PETERS Cu.. PHnfoLlrHa, WASHINGI'ONJLLC.

ADOLF A. STEINHILBEB, OF ROCK ISLAND,

ILLINOIS, ASSIGrNOR` TO ARTISTA PIANO PLAYER COMPANY, OF MILAN, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

PNEUMATIC ACTION.

Specification. of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 18, 1914.

Application led August 10, 1911. Serial No. 643,290.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ADoLF A. STEINHIL- una, a citizen of the United States, residing at Rock Island, Rock Island county, Illinois, have invented cert-ain new and useful Im provenients in Pneumatic Actions, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the primary pneumatic for controlling the power pneumatic which imparts motion to the hammer or other part of a musical instrument by which the note is sounded, and to those devices in which the primary pneumatic is formed or incorporated within the walls of the wind chest or trunk, and one of the objects of the present invention is to simplify the construction and to arrange the parts in such a manner that they will not only be compact, but the strength thereof will be greatly increased, while the cost of manufacture will be materially decreased.

A further object of the invention is to improve and simplify the valve structure as well as the guide and support for the valve stem.

To the attainment of these ends, and the accomplishment of other new and useful objects, as will appear, the invention consists in the features of novelty in substantially the construction, combination and arrangement of the several parts hereinafter more fully described and claimed and shown in the accompanying drawing exemplifying the invention, and in which- Figure 1 is a sectional view on line 1-1, Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the wind chest, partly in elevation and partly in section, and showing a pneumatic act-ion secured thereto. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail sectional view of the primary pneumatic and valve. Fig. 4 is a view taken on line 4-4 Fig. 3.

Referring more particularly to the drawings and in the present exempliication of the invention, the numerals 10 and 11 designate two cooperating members which are superposed one upon the other and secured together in any desired or suitable manner, so as to form between the members an air-tight joint. These members are of any desired size and configuration, but are preferably of a length to extend across the instrument. One of the members, the lowermost member 10, is recessed through its upper face to form an elongated chamber 12, constituting the suction chamber or wind chest, from which the air is exhausted in the ordinary and well known manner common in this art. This member 10 is also provided with a series of recesses 13, arranged in close proximity to the chamber 12, and like the chamber 10 these open through the upper face of the member 10. These recesses 13 constitute diaphragm chambers and are separated from the suction chamber 12 by means of a partition wall 14. This wall 14 is recessed through its upper face to form passages 15 forming communication between the suction chamber 12 and the respective diaphragm chambers 13. Arranged within the member 10, preferably so as to extend below the chambers 12 and 13, is a tracker board duct 15 with which the tubular flexible member 16 communicating with the tracker board, has communication. This tracker board duct 15 preferably extends to a point adjacent the rear wall of the diaphragm chamber 13, and one of these ducts 15 is provided for each of the chambers 13.

As the construction of each of the pneumatics is the same, a specific description of one will apply equally as well to them all.

The bottom of the diaphragm chamber 13 is provided with an opening 17 forming a communicating passage between the chamber 13 and the duct 15, and a diaphragm 18 is arranged within the chamber 13 to extend across the opening 17. The bottom of the chamber 13 is also provided, beyond the periphery of the diaphragm, with a bleed hole 19, which forms communication between the chamber 13 and the tracker board duct 15.

The other member 11 preferably terminates short of the rear edge 20 of the member 10, as shown in Fig. 1, to form a convenient means for attaching the tubular member 16. A portion of this member 11 extends across the top of the suction chamber 12 to form a closure therefor, and the member is recessed to form a valve chamber 21, which is provided with an opening 22 in the lower wall thereof, and which opening forms a communicating passage between the chambers 21 and 13. The chamber 21 is also provided with an opening 23 through the ranged in the member 10, which communicates with the passage 3st, and this passage 35 preferably extends through the lower face of the member 10 and communicates with the passage so as to form a communicating' passage between the chamber 2l and the power pneumatic 36 through an opening 37 in the member 38 of the power pneumatic..

ln order to vary the size of upper Wall thereof, preferably above the opening 22, and forms communication between chamber 21 and the outside atmosphere. A valve seat 24, preferably in the form of a metallic disk is seated Within a recessed portion 25 of the opening 23, and is held in position in any desired or suitable manner.

Arranged Within the chamber' 21 is a valve 26, Which is provided with a recess the bleed 27 opening through its lower tace. Flexible hole duct 19, an adjusting screiv 39 is promembers 28, such as leather or the like, are vided, Which extends through the 'front face of the member 10 so as to be readily accessible from the liront of the instrument, and extends into the tracker board duct 15 and across the bleed hole duct 19.

Briefly stated the operation of this pneumatic is as follows: llllhen an opening in the note sheet passes the opening in the tracker board, air will enter the duct 15 to one side of the diaphragm 18. rlhe chamber 13 on the other side of the diaphragm 18 is connected by the passage 14- vvith the Wind chest or suction chamber 12, in order that the air thus admitted to the duct 15 may be exhausted when the note opening in the record sheet passes beyond the opening in the tracker board. This is accomplished by means orn the bleed hole duct 19, which latter is of considerably smaller diameter than the tracker board duct 15, so that the air ivill be admitted through the duct 15 more rapidly than it may be exhausted through the bleed hole duct 19, whereby the diaphragm 18 Will be influenced by the atmospheric pressure admitted through the duct 15, to move the diaphragm in a. direction to force said valve 26 from its seat around the opening 22, to cause the valve to engage the valve seat 24. rllhis movement et the valve 26 Will connect the passage with the passage 22 by opening the latter passage so that the suction in the to opposite faces of the valve 26, and the flexible member on the lower face of the valve extends across the recess 27. A. valve stem 29 is secured to the valve 26 by means or one extremity of the stein Which passes through that portion of the flexible member 28 which extends across the recess 27, and fastening devices such as nuts 30 are secured to the stem 29 on opposite sides of the flexible member 28. TWith this structure it ivill be manifest that the valve 26 will properly seat itself upon the valve seat formed by the face or" the lower wall of the chamber 21 surrounding the opening 22.

The valve 26 is adapted to i'orm a closure for both of the openings 23 and 22, and is adapted to be operated by means of the diaplnagm 18, engaging' an enlarged head or portion 31 on the end of the valve stem 29. il guide 32 is provided for the valve stem and is of a ividth somewhat less than the size of the opening` 22. rlhis guide 32 is preferably in the lorm` of a continuous member which is adapted to extend across all of the openings 22 of the primary pneumatics and is seated Within a groove 33, provided in the face of the member 11 which extends across the top of the diaphragm chai ber 13, as indicated in Fig. l, and is held against dis ilacement Within such groove in any desired or suitable manner. By providsecured ing a continuous member 32 constituting suction chamber or Wind chest .12 will exthe valve stem guides, and a continuhaustthe povver pneumatic 36 through the ous groove Which extends across all of opening 37 to collapse the latter and thereby the openings 22, it Will be manifest that the operate or sound the note of the instruof the valve 26 will also close the opening which forms communication ivith the outside air through the opening 23. By adjusting the member 39 it will be manifest that the time or' operation of the power pneumatic may be varied. ln order to protect the diaphragm 18 to prevent injury thereto the point of its engagement with the head 31 of the valve stem, a reinforcing member ll0 may be provided, which is se# cured to the diaphragm. As soon as the admission. of the air to the tracker board duct 15 cut off by the record sheet, and the air back of the diaphragm is exhausted through the bleed hole 19, When the valve 26 is agains the seat 2/i, the pressure of the atmospheric air on the valve 26 through the ment. This movement stem guide may be readily seated Within the against the seat 2Ligroove before the members 10 and 11 are assembled, and by forming such guide of a Width less than the size of the openings 22 it will be manitest that the passage formed by the openings 22 ivill not be closed by the guide. This member 32 is provided with upright openings passing therethrough, one opening being arranged in line With each et the openings 22 to receive the respective stems 29 of the valves 26.

'lllhe member l1 is provided with another passage 34. in communication With the chamber 21, and extends through the face of the member 11, which is adjacent the member 10, and this passage 34 is preferably arranged to extend to the rear of the diaphragm chamber 13. A passage 35 is ar- CII opening 23 will force the valve from its seat 24 and against its other seat to close the opening 22.

What is claimed as new is:

l. A wind-chest comprising two members secured together, one of said members having a wind-chest proper formed therein and opening through one face thereof and also a chamber communicating with the chest and opening through the same face, the other member forming a closure for the chamber and having itself a. chamber opening through the face which is adjacent the other member, the last said chamber having a direct communication with the first recited chamber, a valve in one of the said chambers for controlling the communicating passage, the last said chamber having communication with atmospheric air and also with the power pneumatic, a diaphragm in the first said chamber for actuating the valve, a tracker board duct leading to one side of the diaphragm and through the walls of the first said chamber, a bleed hole duct connecting the other side of the diaphragm with the tracker board duct, and an adjustable valve accessible from the outside of said wind chest for varying the size of the said bleed hole duct.

Q. A wind-chest comprising two members secured together, one of said members having a wind-chest proper formed therein and opening through one face thereof and also a chamber communicating with the chest and opening through the same face, the other member forming a closure for the chamber and having itself a chamber opening through the face which is adjacent the other member, the last said chamber having a direct communication with the first recited chamber, a valve in one of the said chambers for controlling the communicating passage, a valve stem for the valve, a flexible connection between the valve and stem at one end of said stem, a guide for the stem, the last said chamber having communication with atmospheric air and also with the power pneumatic, a diaphragm in the first said chamber independent of but adapted to engage the other end of said stem for actuating the Valve, and a tracker board duct leading to one side of the diaphragm and through the walls of the first said member.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination of a wind chest, a chamber within the walls of the chest having communication with the wind chest, a second chamber within the walls of they chest, there being a direct communicating passage between the two chambers, the second said chamber having an opening communicating with atmospheric air, a valve in the Second said chamber for controlling said opening, and also the passage between the chambers,

a valve stem for the valve, a flexible connection between the valve and one end of said stem, the wall of the first said chamber between the two chambers having a groove eX- tending across the said communicating passage, a guide for the valve stem seated in the groove, the second said chamber also having communication with the power pneumatic, an independent diaphragm in the first said chamber adapted for separable engagement with the other end of said stem for actuating the valve, a tracker board duct leadin to one side of the diaphragm, and a blee hole duct forming a communicating passage between the tracker board duct and the first said chamber, and a valve operable from the front of the wind chest for regulating said bleed hole duct.

4. In a device of the class described, the combination of two members secured together, one of said members being recessed to form two adjacent chambers opening through one face thereof, and separated from each other by a partition wall, said wall being recessed through the same face of the member to form a communicating passage between the chambers, one of said chambers constituting a suction chamber, said member being also provided with a tracker board duct extending under the chambers and having communication with the other of said chambers, a diaphragm within the last said chamber and extending across the tracker board duct communication, the other of said members being recessed to form a valve chamber opening through opposite faces and with one of the n openings communicating with the diaphragm chamber, a valve in the valve chamber for controlling both of the openings of said chamber, a valve stem projecting into the diaphragm chamber to be acted upon by the diaphragm, said valve stem being independent of said diaphragm, both of said members being provided with a communicating passage within their walls leading from the valve chamber and through the face of the first said member opposite to the face through which the diaphragm suction chambers open, a portion of the second said member extending across and forming a closure for the said suction chamber, and a guide for the valve stem.

5. In a device of the class described, the combination of two members secured together, one of said members being recessed to form two adjacent chambers opening through one face thereof, and separated from each other by a partition wall, said wall being recessed through the same face of the member to form a communicating passage between the chambers, one of said chambers constituting a suction chamber, said member being also provided with a tracker board duct extending under the llO chambers and having communication with the other of said chambers, a diaphragm within the last said chamber and extending across the tracker board duct communication, the other of said members being recessed to form a 'Valve chamber opening through opposite faces and with one of the openings communicating with the diaphragm chamber, a valve in the Valve chamber for controlling said chamber, a Valve stem projecting in to the diaphragm chamber to be acted upon by the diaphragm, both of said members being provided with a communicating passage within their walls leading from the valve chamber and through the face of the first said member opposite to the face through which the diaphragm and suction chambers open, a portion of the second said member extending across and forming a closure for the said suction chamber, the tace of the second said member extending across the diaphragm chamber being' grooved across the opening between the valve and diaphragin chambers, and a guide for the valve stem seated in said groove.

G. in a device of the class described, the combination of two men bers secured together, one of said members being' recessed to ferm two adjacent chambers opening through one tace, and separated from each other by a partition wall said wail being recessed through the same tace of the member to form a communicating` between the chambers, one of said chambers constitoting a suction chambcr,'said member being also provided with a tracker board duct extending under the chambers and having coinmunication with the other of said chambers, a diaphragm within the last said chamber and extending across the tracker board duct communication, the other of said members being recessed to form a valve chamber opening' through opposite faces and with one oit the openings communicating with the diaphragm chamber, a vaive in the Valve chamber for controlling both of the openings of said chamber, a Avalve stem proj ectiiig in to the diaphragm Chamber to be acted upon by the diaphragm, both of said members beingl provided with a commu uicating passage within their walls leading from the valve chamber and through the face of the .First said member opposite to the face through which the diaphragm and suction chambers open, a portion of the second said member extending across and forming a. closure for the said suction chamber, the face o1" the second said member extending across the diaphragm chamber being grooved across an opening between the valve and diaphragm chambers, and a guide for the valve stem seated in said groove, said guide being of a width in one direction less than the size of the said opening.

both of the openings ci" 7. In a device of the class described, the combination of two members secured together, one of said members being recessed to form two adjacent chambers opening through one face thereof, and separated from each other by a partition wall, said wall being recessed through the same face of the member to form a communicating passage between the chambers, one of said chambers constituting a suction chamber, said member being also provided with a tracker board duct extending under the chamber and having communication with the other of said chambers, a diaphragm within the last said chamber and extending across the tracker board duct communication, the other of said members being recessed to form a Valve chamber opening through opposite faces and with one of the openings communicating with the dia,-

phragm chamber, a valve in the Valve cham ber for controlling both of the openings of said chamber, a valve stem projecting in to the diaphragm chamber to be acted upon by the diaphragm, both of said members being provided with a communicating passage within their walls heading from the valve chamber and through the face of the first said member opposite to the face through which the diaphragm and suction chambers open, a portion of the second said member extending across and forming a closure for the said suction chamber, the face of the second said member extending across the diaphragm chamber being grooved across the opening between the valve and diaphragm chambers, and a guide for the Valve stem seated in said groove, said diaphragm chaiiibei' being` provided with a passaO'e through one of the walls forming communication between said chamber and the tracker board duct.

8. The combination of two members, one of which recess d to form a continuous extended suction chamber opening through one face and a plurality of adjacent diaphragm chambers opening through the same tace and separated from the suction chamber by a partition wall, said wall being recesse/dL through the same tace of the member to form communicating passages between the suction chamber and the respective diaphragni chambers, tracker board ducts within one oi the walls of said member communicating with the respective diaphragm chami ers, a diaphragm in each of said diaphragm chambers extending across the commimication passages and a bleed hole duct leading through on@ wall and from each of the diaphragm chambers to the respectivo tracker board ducts, the other of said members being recessed to form valve chambers opening through opposite faces, the second said member being secured to that face of the iirst said member through which the suction and diaphragm chambers open, so that one of the openings of the valve cha1nbers will communicate With the respective diaphragm chambers and a portion of the member Will form a closure for the suction chamber, a valve in each of the valve chambers for controlling both openings of the respective valve chambers, a valve stem guide extending across all of the valve chambers and recessed into that face of the second said member adjacent the diaphragm chambers, a valve stem for each of the valves projecting through said guide and terminating adjacent the respective diaphragms and communicating passages Within the Walls of both members and leading from each of the valve chambers to the respective power pneumatics.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses1 on this seventh day of August, A. D. 1911.

ADOLF A. STEINHILBER. `Witnesses W. T. CHANNON, F. T. DUFRA.

Copies oi this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patenti, Washington, D. C. 

